Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-09-16
FRIDAY MORNING. SEPT. IS. 1887
A THIRD PARTY.

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The Prohibitionists in Virginia, as else
where, are growing party. But while in
its small clothes it, like other children, is
giving those around it great deal of
trouble. The conference which assembled
here Tuesday did not form an exception
to the rule, and the local Republican man
ayers are knitting their brows this morn
ing over what to do about it. When the
mass meeting of that party assemblies here
October 9Th, it must do one of two things
oppose the Prohibition ticket with a
nomination of its own, or support it by
making no nomination. If they make
nominations they repudiate all the back
patting and taffy they have been giving
the great moral interest involved in the
success of Prohibition; if they don It nomi-
nate ticket they paralyZe some infuen-
tial friends who lately helped them to car
ry Stanton against the Democracy. In
fact. the Republican party presents sim
gular aspect on the question of Prohibi-
ton, when you come to look at it, While
our contemporary, the ''Valley Virginian, -
is not sparing in its praise of Prohibition
yet when the thing comes to be put
in practice. we find the Chairman of the
Republican County Committee and other
prominent Republicans leading the fight
on the stump and around the polls in favor
of License. October Eighth cannot be
looked forward to with any degree of hap
piness by such discordant family.
Anether trouble our stout young friend
Prohibition, gives, is to those who have its
interests in charge-its candidates. It has
put two forward of whom it may only be
said that they never did it any harm-nor
any good. Neither have been known to the
public as enthusiastic Prohibitionists, or
indeed as Prohibitionists at all. The vet
Grams, who have been through some fights,
have with great politeness given them the
front place at the party SHAMELESS Knowing
that in the formation of new party a Ger
tain per cent, of candidates must be
slaughtered before the party becomes for
midable as an organization; the confer
ence, with cruel wisdom, selected two ex-
cellent gentlemen for the November sacri-
fee, whose slaughter will create no gap in
the ranks Of the active Prohibitionists.
To kill out such war worn veterans as A.
FL. Fultz, or Chas. E. Haines, or W. E.
SHELTON would panic the line, but the fall
of a couple of recruits will hurt nobody in
particular. and the veteran leaders will be
alive to see the sun shine more brightly on
the cause-as it will some future day
and to water the flowers on the graves OF
the recruits.
We have said the November sacrifice
because that is what it is. If the Repub-
lican mass meeting take up the Prohibi-
tion ticket the Democratic Prohibition1sts
will stampede, as they did in 1885. If it
dominates straight Republican ticket
then the Republican Prohibitionists les
pecially the colored citizens) will STAN
pede, and the two candidates now out Will
have about a sufficient number of votes TO
act as pail bearers after the ballot is
counted. The complications to be adjust
ed are memorable and cannot be quieted.
For Instance the appearance of Chairman
VIM. E. Craig of the Republican county
committee, as the supporter of a Prohibi-
ton ticket! Mr.. Craig g political relations
with ex-senator Malone the Chairman OF
the Republican State Central Committee
are so intimate that his appearance in
such role would be about equivalent to
the announcement that William Malone
had elevated the Prohibition flag
What effect that would have on Republi-
can prospects in the Virginia counties this
fall. is problem that is yet to be solved
And what about the Den ocratic party
all this time? How is it to be affected?
Well, the Democratic party occupies
pretty safe and conservative ground in the
coming fight. 1t is to the Democratic leg
islature and Governor that the Prohibition
party owes its Local Option biIl-a bill
that gives the people right to decide for
themselves. From that position which is
founded on true Democratic doctrine, the
legislature elected by it is not going to
recede. If the whiskey interest wants
that bill repealed, we frankly say to it
SShau it will have to go to some other po-
litical party to get it done. The Democ-
racy has done its full duty to the cause of
temperance in the State of Virginia, and
on that record it stands for the campaign
of 1887. If the temperance sentiment has
changed it's demand, and wants Prohibi-
tion legislature elected this fall, then 1t is
adopting practical course in forming
third party and testing at the ballot box
the strength of that sentiment. Neither
of the two old parties will, where they
have the majority, take up the Prohibition
issue. But while we say it may prove
wisdom to form third party, we add that
it ought to be in fact as we'll as name a
third party and not cats-paw and coali.
ton. A Prohibitionist elected to the
next Virginia legislature should vote for
none Of its officers who are not Prohlbi-
tionists; no candidates for State officers
who are not; for no U. s. Senator who is
not-ln short, he should be Prohibition
list at Richmond as he is at home. And
now how many votes does any sane man
suppose Prohibition candidate for U. S.
Senator would get in the next Virginia
legislature or in several Legislatures after
that? 1t has been the throwing Of the Pro :
hibitlon vote hither and thither by those |
entrusted with it in other States; to this |
political aspirant and that, that has kept |
in the back ground much of the high pur-
pose of the movement and intensified |
with regard to it in Virginia, the suspic-
ions and doubts that attend all new poIiti- |
cal parties.
Messrs. Winfield Liggett, HI. v. Strayer
and John T. Harris, Jr., the new editor
az ha Roolx 1